The Experience of a Lifetime

Disclaimer: I do not own Troy or any of its characters…oh phooey!

A/N: I can't believe how many of you reviewed my first chapter! I really appreciate all of the support and compliments that were given to me and my work. I am so glad that you all liked it and I hope you all enjoy the rest of the story as well. Enjoy!

Chapter Two

The Trip to Sparta

A gasp followed by a cry of pain pierced through the air as a young woman sprung herself upright in a large silken bed. Her body shook in tremors and her harsh breathing came in short gasps. Tiny beads of sweat rolled down her rosy cheeks and fresh tears escaped the confinements of her wide azure orbs. Her head whipped this way and that, searching through the darkness of her room for any unexpected intruders. As she came to the conclusion that there were none, she tucked her knees to her chest and rested her head atop her arms and wept.

Suddenly, a few loud footsteps sounded from outside her room and then her door swung open to reveal a man with a shining sword in his grasp. His hair was dark and pulled back in a loose ponytail, keeping his unruly locks out of his face. His eyes scanned the room, looking for any danger that may have threatened this woman, until he noticed her sitting on the bed. His eyes softened and he lowered his sword, drawing nearer to the woman until he was right next to her. At first she drew back, not trusting the man before her until she recognized whom he was.

"Hector!" She jumped into his arms as he came closer and sobbed into his shoulder, soaking his loose fitting shirt with salty tears. He didn't seem to care though and just sat down on the bed with her in his lap, calming her down with comforting words.

"Do not worry Lena, I am here. No one is to harm you now." She just ended up crying harder at his supposedly comforting words. Where was he ten years ago? Why was he not there to help her when she needed it the most? She knew it was unexpected and definitely uncalled for, but she had no other answer to what had happened that very frightening night. It had changed her whole life, her outlook on things that were dear to her. Especially men. And now that her memory had returned, the young frightened child inside of her reemerged to show itself to the world once more.

Ever since the "incident" had occurred, Lena had never came close to being near another man save for her brothers and father. Even that was a stretch for her to accomplish. She had made it her life's purpose to stay away from men. And the knowledge of knowing that whoever had done that horrible thing to her was never found and was still free to roam the streets was even harder for her to live with. It was almost as if he could just appear and take her again, maybe even do worse with her. It made shivers jump up and down her spine.

But now Hector was with her. Her protector and mentor was here to take all the pain away just like he always did. But now was different. Now was the last time he would be able to protect her for a long while for the next day he and Paris were off to Sparta to meet with the Spartan King and complete their alliance. He would be gone for weeks; maybe even months and she knew that no one else would be here to help her in her time of need. She was to be left alone among a huge palace and a few guards that could do nothing to comfort her troubled heart. She needed to be free of solitude and reassured of her complete safety. But no, Hector and Paris were leaving her alone to fend for herself and rely on only herself for the aid in which she needed. Now, was the beginning of her next nightmare.

"Please, please do not leave me," she lifted her head and stared at her brother with red-rimmed eyes. "I can not stay here without you by my side. You and Paris are my only source of comfort and safety. I need you here, not in Sparta!" The tears welled up in her eyes once more and she sniffled as she pleaded with Hector to reconsider his decision. Maybe there was still a chance that he would stay, but the disappointing look that was upon his face said otherwise. He was going to Sparta and she could do nothing to change his mind.

"I can not stay, you know this. I must go to Sparta and finish our agreement. There is nothing else I can do." She lowered her gaze from him and closed her eyes, allowing a few tears to fall freely onto her lap.

"It is just not fair. What will I do with myself while you are gone? What will happen if something unexpected occurs? I can not allow it to happen again!" Hector narrowed his eyes as if somewhat understanding the riddles in which she spoke of, until he realized what she really was speaking about. He should have known this was to be brought up. He raised his arm and cupped her chin in his hand while lifting her face upwards. Almost immediately, she opened her eyes once he made contact with her skin and gazed into his reassuring eyes. He seemed to be having trouble thinking of what to say, until he moved his lips and finally spoke of what he was thinking.

"If you are truly frightened of the consequences of my not being here, then use the skill I had taught you long ago. You know what I am speaking of, right?" Lena sighed and nodded her head. She knew what he was saying. Not long after the rape had happened, Hector had decided to teach her how to defend herself if she ever needed to. Paris had participated in a few lessons, but Hector was her real mentor. He had taught her the art of swordplay and somehow she had picked up a few basic skills on how to fight a person man to man or in this case woman to man or woman to woman. Paris he assumed.

"Yes, I understand." She paused a few seconds before continuing. "Are you sure you must leave?" Hector smiled and shook his head.

"Yes, I am sure. Now you must rest. Tomorrow will be a busy day." Lena shook her head and wiped the rest of her tears from her face. She climbed under the sheets of her warm comfortable bed and smiled as Hector placed a light kiss on her forehead. It seemed like yesterday that he did such a thing. She sighed as her eyes followed him over to the door and then watched as he disappeared into the darkness. Her heart began to beat faster as she knew she was alone again, and she could do nothing but lie there and wait for the sun to rise and cast its fiery rays upon her face.

"No, not this time." She quietly removed the blankets from her body and swung her legs off of the side of the bed. She hopped to the floor and then kneeled while placing her hands under her bed, searching for something particular. A smile rose to her lips as she felt something solid touch her fingers and she pulled the object out. It was an old wooden chest with rope handles on either side and nicely carved designs all over the exterior. Her fingers traced the outline of the chest until she felt a small crevice in which she could fit her fingers into and then lifted the top open.

Her eyes lit up as she viewed the beautifully crafted weapon before her. Her sword. It was as radiant as ever and the way the moonlight shone down on it made it glow and shimmer. She carefully removed it from its shelter and brought it towards her while admiring the effort and skill used to make the hilt and blade. It was gorgeous! She felt safer already knowing that she had this in her grasp and she knew she would never let it go.

Slowly, she closed the chest and pushed it back under her bed. Her knees cracked as she stood straight again and then she crawled back into bed where she would hopefully have a peaceful sleep. She carefully set the sword under her pillows where she could easily get to it and then closed her eyes. After a few minutes, she fell into a dreamless sleep, not to be awakened until morning.

The next day was the day of the Princes' leave and Lena woke up with the slight singe of sorrow weighing down her heart. She did not want her brothers to leave her to her lonesome, but she understood that they had to go. She could always busy herself with her artwork or helping Andromache out with her son. Ah, Lena's nephew Scamandrius. She knew that Hector and Andromache were made for each other. They were so deeply in love, a child born not too long after their marriage was no surprise to Lena. She smiled just thinking about it.

"Too bad I will never have a child." Her smile turned to a frown and she sighed in longing. She wanted a child so much, but she knew it could never be. Taking care of the child would be no problem, but the way the child was made was what scared her. A man would be needed to create life and that was something she could never succumb herself to. Ever. She would rather die than go through what she had already. It was just too much for her to bear. She shook her head to rid herself of the thought and swung her legs off the edge of the bed. It was time for her to get ready.

The streets were crowded with Trojans, all awaiting for their Princes' to set off to Sparta. They were to sail by sea. The boat wasn't all that big, but just fit for a prince or two. The estimation of their arrival to Sparta was approximately two weeks, depending on wind speed and weather. And the crew that was to go with them were highly efficient workers, so they could arrive there sooner than expected. Hopefully.

The royal family gathered in the throne room where Paris and Hector would be wishing their family farewell. Andromache held her baby close while kissing Hector goodbye. It would be a long while until she saw her husband again, if he was coming back alive. The myths of the Aegean Sea were known all around for its mysterious ways.

"May your journey be safe." Hector smiled and brushed a strand of Andromache's loose locks from her face before placing a light kiss on her forehead. She smiled and held Scamandrius closer to Hector and he also kissed him on the forehead.

"I will come back, I promise." Hector smiled and gazed into Andromache's eyes before walking away and over to his father.

Paris had just finished talking to Briseis and was now over by Lena. He wrapped his arms around her in a great bear hug and allowed her to cry on his shoulder. He knew she would be more upset than anyone about their journey. She needed him here, but he could not ignore his responsibilities as Prince of Troy. She would just have to care for herself and learn to be independent. It was the only solution he could come up with.

"Please, be careful and come back soon."

"I will." He pulled back and smiled while raising his hand to her cheek and kissing her forehead. "You take care of yourself and remember you have people you know you can trust all around you. Use that to your advantage." Lena smiled and nodded. No matter what was bringing her down, Paris could always cheer her up somehow. Just knowing that she could trust one person made her feel a whole lot better.

"Yes, that advice is good to follow. If you need anyone, Andromache, Briseis, and Lalaine are always here for you. That is more than enough people for you to be able to trust if you ask me." Lena smiled and stepped over to Hector and hugged him with all her might.

"Thank you." She pulled back and looked at them before wrapping one of her arms around Paris' shoulder and hugging them both. "Thank you both, so much." Hector and Paris chuckled and then pulled back from her. Lena smiled and then walked over to her father, Andromache, and Briseis where they stood in a little group behind the two Princes.

"Have a safe trip my sons." Hector and Paris nodded at their father and then motioned for a guard to open the door. The guard did so and the two Princes' ventured out of the room and toward their docks. Upon seeing their princes', the crowds of people who were there to watch them take off cheered and murmured prayers for their safe arrival at Sparta and their future return home.

Hector and Paris waved as they made their way down to the docks and then stepped into the boat with the crew aboard. A couple minutes later, they were off and on their way to the Spartan kingdom.

Lena watched as the boat sailed away and she could not help but allow a few tears to roll down her cheeks. She would not see her brothers for more than a month and that was the longest time yet. Sure, Hector had been involved in many battles, but he was always close to home. And now, he's more than 200 miles away. Sometimes it sucked to be royalty.

"Come now Lena, let's go pray for them in the Temple of Apollo. It will make you feel much better." Lena glanced at Briseis and nodded.

"I agree. Let me inform my father and then we can go." Lena quickly hurried over to her father and told him what was happening. Afterwards, the two girls left and trudged on towards the beach where the Temple resided. They walked through the crowded streets where people had little stands in which they sold things and Briseis and Lena could not help but purchase a few items that looked absolutely gorgeous. After many minutes of traveling through the markets and fleeing from crazy stalkers, they finally made their way to the Temple of Apollo.

It was beautiful to look upon as the sun reflected off of the sandy pyramid. There were many rocky steps that led to the entrance of the temple and Briseis and Lena began climbing them one by one. As they reached the top, they bowed their heads at the golden sculpture of Apollo that sat atop a smooth ledge and peered about the vast beach. Then slowly, they walked inside and felt the coolness of the large room encircle their bodies. It was a huge difference compared to the sun and sent chills up and down their spines.

"Wow, it's chilly in here." Lena exclaimed as she rubbed her hands over her arms.

"Here, wear this," Briseis replied while grabbing two white robes from a hook by a nearby wall and handing one to Lena. "The priests recommend these themselves." Lena smiled and thanked her cousin while slipping the robe about her arms and over her shoulders.

They continued their way further into the Temple until they reached a large room that was connected to many other hallways and many rock statues stood gazing at the newcomers. One in particular was the beautifully carved statue leaning against the wall in the middle of the room and was obviously the biggest statue there. It stood about twenty feet off the ground and took the shape of a man with a golden bow in his hand and a quiver of arrows perched on his back. Apollo. (Not sure what's really in here, but I have researched on Apollo and this is what I have come up with.)

A rectangular ditch lined with concrete stood before the statue of Apollo and two priests were kneeled before it, worshipping the large God. Lena, a little reluctant to go, gulped and quietly followed Briseis up to the priests so as not to startle or interrupt them and kneeled next to them. The priests had heard the two women enter the temple and opened their eyes to peer at them. It was the Lady Lena and Lady Briseis! They smiled to themselves and continued praying to the "god of light."

Lena didn't know what to pray for. All she could think of was the two priests seated next to Briseis for she was on the other side of Briseis and away from them. She had known these priests since she was born, but did not know if she could fully trust them. Well, she thought, as long as Briseis is here, I shall be fine. And so she prayed for her brothers and Troy and hoped that the meeting between Troy and Sparta went splendid.

When she was done praying and paid her respects to Apollo, she turned to Briseis and found her to be speaking quietly to one of the priests. They were talking about her nonfrequent visits to the temple lately and Lena walked over to join them in their conversation. The priest noticing Lena's advancement, bowed his head in respect and smiled at the young princess while catching her hand in his and lightly kissing it. She smiled in return, trying to appear normal, but flinched once he touched her.

"Ah, young Princess Lena has finally returned after many months and my has she grown tall and beautiful. You look just like your mother." Lena smiled and nodded her head. She had never had the chance to compare herself to her mother for she had died when she was very little, but the paintings some artists had drawn of her were magnificent and very radiant and so Lena had to take that as a compliment.

"Thank you My Lord. I am honoured to be compared to my mother. She was very beautiful, at least that is what I am told." The priest nodded and released her hand and Lena quickly latched it onto her other one so as not to be grabbed by the hand again. Briseis noticed her action and smiled warmly at Lena before clearing her throat and guiding the priest elsewhere. Lena smiled gratitudely at Briseis, but then wondered where the other priest had gone. She looked wildly around for him, her eyes wide and her heart rate increasing. Where was he? Finally, she noticed him over by the ditch of water still and then as Briseis and the other priest came near him, he joined in on their conversation.

She sighed and then looked over to the entrance of the temple and began to draw near to it. She needed some fresh air. As she came near the entrance, she removed the white robe Briseis had offered her and hung it back on its hook, then ventured outside. The sun was still bright and hot and immediately she felt the heat return to her body and felt like a weight was dropped onto her shoulders. Oh joyful bliss! The ways of life to curse her with such a burden. A burden that she herself still did not understand. How could one event that took place so long ago still haunt her mind? Her dreams? Her life? It did not make sense to her and yet, it did.

She had known those two priests in there. She knew them very well from when she was a child. Almost every other day she would visit the temple and pray to her god and talk with the priests. They would tell her stories and information about anything that she had asked and they had always treated her with respect. Now, she was too frightened to even lay a foot in that temple without one of her brothers or her father there. She was surprised she had actually come here today without reluctance or arguments. Maybe it was something that had happened in her mind. Or maybe she was crazy and just decided to get herself hurt again.

Whatever it was, she didn't like it and she didn't want to have to deal with it. Yet, she knew that sometime she would. There would be a time that she would have to face her most greatest fear. The fear of all fears. But she never knew that it would come so soon…

A/N: Chapter two is done! Yay! I hope you all liked it and hopefully most, if not all of my information was correct. Thanks a bunch for reading! Till next chapter…

REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!!!